Physical discomfort may be reduced in the
presence of interior plants

Summary.

This experiment was designed to examine the role of
plants in people's responses to physical
discomfort. Subjects were randomly assigned to a
treatment room with plants, colorful objects, or nothing
added. Each was asked to place his or her hand in
ice water and remove the hand if it was
uncomfortable. Subjects were also asked about
their perceptions of the treatment room.

(Click on photo for a larger version.)

We found that more subjects were willing to keep a hand
submerged in ice water for 5 minutes if they were in a
room with plants present than if they were in a room
without plants. This was found to be true even when
the room without plants had other colorful objects that
might help the subject focus on something other than the
discomfort. Results from a room assessment survey
confirmed that the room with colorful, non-plant objects
was as interesting and colorful as the room with plants
present, but the presence of plants was perceived as
making the air in the room fresher.